With the 2023 CAF Awards around the corner, here are the three players we think are most deserving of the Men's Player of the Year prize!
Earlier this week, ex-Manchester City star Riyadh Mahrez opened up after hearing that former Sevilla shot-stopper Yassine Bounou had been named as one of the favourites to win the award this year.
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The goalkeeper was a part of the Sevilla side that won the UEFA Europa League last season, but Mahrez was brutally honest in his assessment of the news, saying: "It is true that he won the European League, but that has nothing to do with the historic treble with City."
First of all, what really makes a player worthy of winning an individual award? Is it individual performances throughout the judging period or is it determined based on what trophies the player managed to win with his team? Or both?
Or does none of that count and is the whole process subjective? Well, if we look at the most recent Ballon d'Or awards, that is probably the case.
Erling Haaland scored a staggering 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City last season, helping the Citizens to their first-ever UEFA Champions League crown and a historic treble. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, collected his eighth Ballon d'Or after winning the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint Germain, accumulating 16 goals and 16 assists in 32 games, and famously winning the World Cup in Qatar with his national team last December.
Some thought the Norwegian was more deserving of that award, while others fee Messi earned it because of his World Cup triumph.
So, it seems to be a subjective affair, doesn't it?
Having covered that, based on what they have achieved as individuals as well as what they were able to win with their respective clubs, here are the three players we believe are most deserving of CAF's Player of the Year accolade this time around: Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, Egyptian striker Mahmoud Kahraba, and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen.
Mahrez
The Algerian winger had a sublime 2022/23 campaign that saw him win the treble with Haaland and the rest of his City teammates, lifting the Premier League (for the third consecutive time), the FA Cup and their very first UCL trophies.
Silverware-wise with his club, he won almost everything he possibly could.
Individually, he made 47 appearances, scoring 15 goals and assisting 13 times during his former side's iconic campaign.
He departed England, however, at the end of the season and joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, where he has kept up his good form with six goals and seven assists in 14 appearances for his new side. That is almost a goal contribution a game.
Osimhen
The Nigerian is considered to be one of the world's top strikers and has been linked with many big clubs since establishing himself as an important member of Napoli's first team.
Like Mahrez, the striker also achieved a historic feat with his club in the 2022/23 campaign. He helped Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years, and his contributions played a large role in the club's success.
In fact, you could argue that Gli Azzurri would not have won the league without his presence in the squad. After all, it takes very little to affect the outcome of games. Osimhen, however, has that X-factor that can make all the difference.
It was a memorable season for Napoli fans, and for the Nigeria international on a personal level. In all competitions, he made 39 appearances, scored 31 times and assisted a further five strikes.
He was Serie A's top scorer with 26 goals, and in doing so, became the first African player to win the league's Golden Boot award. He was also chosen as the division's player of the season.
Kahraba
Manchester City were not the only team in the world to win a treble last season. Al Ahly also proved an extremely dominant side, winning the Egyptian Premier League, the Egypt Cup and the Egyptian Super Cup, as well as the CAF Champions League.
Kahraba proved a vital part of their success, making a significant impact since joining the Egyptian giants from Hatayspor in June last year.
He made a total of 32 appearances, scoring 13 goals and creating five further strikes. Six of his goals, however, came in the Champions League. The striker ended the competition as the joint top scorer, level on goals with Mamelodi Sundowns star Peter Shalulile.
This season, Kahraba's two goals in the African Football League helped his side reach the semi-final before they were knocked out by Sundowns, who went on to win the tournament.
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